Thanksgiving: A Time to Be Thankful, Even in the NICU

As promised, a link to the new article from the Type A Mom site, on Giving Thanks Even when Thanksgiving is in the NICU.

In the article you will find a number of ways that generous people are helping NICU parents to be able to give thanks, even in the NICU. I've shared a couple already in previous posts this week.

Some of my favorites are the creative ways that people are helping NICU Parents to cope.

Earlier this month, The Preemie Clothes Guide posted Patterns and Ideas for Thanksgiving Preemie Blankets with links to different blanket patterns plus with suggestions for ways to modify the patterns to create special Thanksgiving preemie blankets.

Respiratory Therapist, Glenna Muse post of the 2009 Official Thanksgiving Turkey Hat was my inspiration to find the many ways that people are helping NICU parents to give thanks. She knits out of love for these little babies and shares why she is Thankful this Thanksgiving.

Those babies and these hats make me joyous. It's that simple. Every time I hold a three pound baby and every time I plop one of my silly little hats onto one of those tiny little heads I see God in their eyes and for those moments I am a mountain of faith that the world is a wondrous place and we are blessed to be here, all connected as one big family on Earth.

On this Thanksgiving I am thankful for all of our little miracles and that I am so lucky to play a part, through respiratory therapy and by knitting hats, in their first days in this life.

I will be posting a blog next year about Glenna Muse's efforts on Knitting in the NICU.

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A related article is on the Type-A Mom site under the NICU section of Mom Stages.


More

Dyer KA. 2009. Giving Thanks Even when Thanksgiving is in the NICU. Type A Mom.
Dyer KA. 2009. Encouraging Message: The Full, True Thanksgiving Comes from the Heart. NICU Parent Support Blog.
Dyer KA. 2009. Being Thankful at Thanksgiving in the NICU. NICU Parent Support Blog.

Image: Glenna Muse. 2009 Official NICU Thanksgiving Mascot Turkey Hat. Used with Permission.

Creatively Coping: Knit a Heart Pin or Pins

I discovered a very cute and easy pattern available online for knitting little hearts.

I realize that knitting little hearts would be a great way making quick thank you gifts for NICU nurses.

The hearts could be turned into pins, used as decorations on packages or even a mobile for your NICU baby. Keeping idle hands busy and knitting is one of the ways that a NICU parent (or grandparent) can TAKE CARE to get through the NICU adventure.

This pattern is a really easy way to use up yarn leftovers as can be seen in this blog post on closely knit, love letter in yarn.

The Heart Pin pattern is available from Hannah Fettig of knitbot. It is one of the patterns available in her book, Closely Knit: Handmade Gifts For The Ones You Love, her beautiful collection of handmade gifts for your loved ones.

Pattern: Hannah Fetting. Heart Pin Pattern From Closely Knit. Knitbot.

Image: Adapted from Marieke Kuijjer. Knitted Heart. Creative Commons License.

Supporting Parents and Relatives In Neonatal Grief (S.P.R.I.N.G.)

S.P.R.I.N.G. (Supporting Parents and Relatives In Neonatal Grief) is an organization in the U.K. that provides many unique resources and local opportunities for parents experiencing neonatal grief.

Supporting Parents and Relatives In Neonatal Grief was established to provide support to parents and relatives who have experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, at, or just after birth. This includes miscarriage, stillbirth and termination for foetal abnormality.

S.P.R.I.N.G. is run by a unique combination of bereaved parents, relatives and caring professionals from the Poole Maternity Unit in Poole, Dorset in the U.K.

Their aim is to befriend and support through grief. This is achieved by offering counseling, befriending and monthly support meetings.

Little Angels - Knitting for the Poole Maternity
Supporting Parents and Relatives In Neonatal Grief also encourages knitters to kit and donate baby clothes and teddies for their fundraisers.

On their website they have two knitting patterns on the site, one for this cute teddy bear and another one for booties and hat.

Knitting Angels is a great idea for other NICU's and NICU families to adopt in the United States and other countries.

More Knitting Projects
If you are interested in sharing your knitting or crocheting talents with NICU newborns, contact your local NICU and see if there is an organized program there.

• Calvin's Hats - Knitting tiny hats for babies who are born to early to survive.
• Knit One, Save One - Knitting to Save Babies Globally
• 11 freely available patterns - From Lions Brand Yarn, some to knit, some to crochet.
  

Knit One Save One and Save a Life

Knit One Save One is a joint project from Save the Children and the Warm Up America! Foundation are calling all knitters to make hats to cover tiny heads and save millions of babies globally.

These two organizations are encouraging people who knit and crochet (and those who want to learn how to knit and crochet) to make hats for newborns.

The Knit One, Save One Project is a great way to introduce children to knitting, crocheting and activism.

More about Knit One Save One
Research shows that 60 percent of the 4 million newborn deaths that occur each year could be prevented if mothers and children in poor countries had access to a simple package of health measures.

This low-cost, effective package includes antibiotics to fight infections, immunizations against tetanus, training for birth attendants, education on breastfeeding and basic care for newborns such as keeping a baby warm with a knit cap, even those born in hot climates.

You can find out More about the Knit One Save One Campaign at the Save the Children Website and the Lion's Brand Yarn Featured Charity Page.

Free Preemie Hat Patterns
The Lion's Brand Yarn Company website provides 11 freely available patterns, some to knit, some to crochet that work for premature and tiny babies.

Read more about Knit One Save One at Squidoo.

Updates 2/2009:
Save the Children's Knit One, Save One Campaign was a huge success. Thanks to the skills and creativity of thousands of knitters over 100,000 caps will be delivered to mothers and newborns in countries like Ethiopia, Nepal and El Salvador.